Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Taking up a new hobby

So I've decided to pick up embroidery. Normally, when I think of embroidery, I think of flowers and handkerchiefs, so it's opened my eyes to see modern designs and cute motifs from some friends of mine. So, I decided to try my hand at it. After all, if I could whip up a bunch of little embroidered things, I could stitch them onto anything and have a fun gift for someone! I like to doodle, so I'll turn my doodles into embroidery bits.

My first project was for my nephew's second birthday. I had made him two hooded towels for Christmas, and evidently they were a huge hit and he needed more hooded towels. So, that's what I would do. But to make them a little different and personalize them a little more, I decided to put some fun embroidery on the hood.

First I headed to Wal-Mart for supplies, because that's what there is around here. I was so disappointed to find that there was nothing there for a budding embroiderer. Nothing.

Ugh. Stupid small town, I thought. But then I was expressing my discouragement to a friend, and she mentioned that she thought there was a needlework shop right between her house and mine, tucked down a small road only about a quarter mile from my house. I went to check it out, and it was the best array of embroidery thread, needles and other paraphernalia I'd ever seen! Move over Hobby Lobby! Hooray for small towns, I decided!

I went into that shop three days in a row, getting supplies, exchanging thread colors, and finally going back to show the finished product. The owner of the shop was so helpful, and then she even took pictures and put them up on her blog! How fun is that!

Here are the towels for sweet Ian. I hope he enjoys them, and I hope they don't come apart in the wash. If they do, at least the towel part will still work!

14 comments:

  1. They are wonderful and you did a great job on the embroidery! He'll get lots of use out of them, too! Did you do some for Caleb?

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  2. I always liked embroidery because it was easy to tote and do anywhere. Perhaps you'll find that creative outlet you need in a "do-able" way.

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  3. That's so fun! They look great. You'll have to teach me what you learn some time.

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  4. Ack! I've got one in the laundry basket ready for the wash next... any special instructions!?!?

    In all of the bday hulabaloo, an adequate thanks was probably not given... these towels are awesome, and Ian loved talking about the whale at his bath the other night. Tonight, the octopus makes its debut! I'll be sure to take pictures. :-)

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  5. Girl, you should sell your awesome stuff on Etsy. You could even put artsy photography out there. Although I've heard that very few really make good money on etsy.

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  6. Been commenting on the "stitcher's" blog, she replied with a suggestion on washing the towels.

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  7. hey there L.
    great job with the embroidery/towels.
    i haven't sewn in a while, but previously spent many hours at the machine. today i actually purchased the makings for a small quilt. now, if i can just complete the job to my liking :)
    D. (Denise) (mom of Teresa)

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  8. Wow, those look awesome! I am quite impressed! Did you just make that up without a picture or anything? Artists....

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  9. @Karen: I would just wash them like a normal towel. My philosophy is that if they can't run with the big dogs then they deserve to fall apart. :) But if they do fall apart, I'm sorry, and I'll make you another one. :) As for Etsy...eh...I like making things for family. Someday when my kids go off to school and I have nothing to do at home, I'll think about it.

    @Teresa: Yeah, I drew these out, and today I started doing some of the doodles I've posted up here in the past. I'm glad I'm finally figuring out a way to use them!

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  10. Well, I washed them on fancy cycles on my new washer and dryer that I've never used... "handwash" and "ultra-delicate." We'll see how that goes.

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  11. SO CUTE! I love! And your drawings are absolutely darling. I've done little bits of embroidery, but I have to print cute outlines I find on the computer because I have zero artistic skills. Go you! (And go small towns!)

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  12. They're adorable - is that hand- or machine-embroidery? I'm not very good at spotting the difference just by looking at it.

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  13. @Bethgun: This is hand embroidery, though I'm not sure I'd know how to tell the difference, either, if I hadn't done it!

    @Karen: Whew! Glad to know they made it through their first washing!

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